Subwoofers — Polk Audio Monitor XT10

The Monitor XT10 is the smaller of the two powered subwoofers in the Monitor XT series from Polk Audio, sitting below the Monitor XT12. Polk designed it as the bass companion for the rest of the Monitor XT family, whose speakers and subwoofers are voiced as a matched set so that models from the range can be mixed in one stereo or home cinema system. The US list price is USD 349.

Key specs that matter

A 10 inch long-throw, high-excursion woofer with a bi-laminate paper cone gets its power from a Class D stage producing 50 W continuous (RMS) and 100 W peak. Polk states low-frequency extension down to 24 Hz. The low-pass crossover is continuously variable from 40 Hz to 160 Hz, and an LFE setting passes the filtered signal from an AV receiver straight through. Phase can be set to 0 or 180 degrees. The black ported cabinet measures 302 mm wide, 400 mm high and 421 mm deep. Weight is 10.4 kg.

Engineering and use context

Both the woofer and the reflex port face the floor, leaving the front of the box free of openings behind a detachable grille. The MDF enclosure is critically braced, which Polk says keeps panel resonance down. The driver belongs to Polk's Dynamic Balance family, the company's name for its approach to woofer construction. Auto on/off operation brings the amplifier out of standby once music or film audio is detected, and an indicator light shows its state. The feet are permanently fixed and offer no levelling adjustment. Setup relies on three controls - volume, the crossover knob and the polarity switch - letting the owner set both the output level and the upper frequency limit to suit the satellites in use. Polk backs the woofer with a five-year limited warranty and the amplifier with a three-year limited warranty.

Pairing

Connection is by line-level input or a single RCA LFE socket, which suits most AV receivers and stereo amplifiers with a subwoofer or preamp output. Polk provides no speaker-level terminals on the XT10, which rules out hookup to an amplifier lacking any line output. Polk lists it as compatible with Dolby Atmos, Auro 3D and DTS:X receivers, and the company suggests adding a second XT10 for more output and a more consistent low end in the listening area. Its voicing is set to match the Monitor XT loudspeakers, though nothing in the connections ties it to that range.

Alternatives

The Polk Monitor XT12 steps up in size within the XT line, pairing a 12 inch woofer with a Class AB amplifier in a 407 x 418 x 456 mm cabinet.